Pope Francis in sombre visit to Auschwitz death camp

By Frances D'Emilo

Pope Francis has paid a sombre visit to the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau, becoming the third consecutive pontiff to make the pilgrimage to the place where Adolf Hitler's forces killed more than a million people.

Pope Francis prays at the International Monument to the Victims of the Birkenau Nazi death camp on July 29, 2016 in Brzezinka

Pope Francis at Auschwitz as part of his visit on World Youth Day

Pope Francis praying at the International Monument for victims at the Birkenau extermination camp

Pope Francis has paid a sombre visit to the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau, becoming the third consecutive pontiff to make the pilgrimage to the place where Adolf Hitler's forces killed more than a million people.

Francis entered the camp on foot, walking slowly in his white robe beneath the notorious gate at Auschwitz bearing the words “Arbeit Macht Frei” (Work will set you free).